Sprinkler Repair Facts
Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair provides Expert Service for Sprinkler Heads, Valves, Controllers and all other Sprinkler System difficulties. We service Norman, Edmond, Oklahoma City, Moore, Yukon, Mustang, and Midwest City.
Sprinkler Controller Repair is a service provided by Oklahoma Drainage. A Sprinkler Controller is the “Brain,” of a Sprinkler System. They can wear out or stop working. Power surges in the home can cause damage to a controller.
Programming can be difficult for homeowners. We can help with programming or replace a Sprinkler Module if it is defective.
Start Time Programming
“Start Time” programing many times is confusing for homeowners. The definition of a Start Time is a time that is chosen for the sprinkler system to start watering. It causes zone 1 to start running. When zone 1 is finished it automatically stops and zone 2 begins. When Zone 2 is complete it stops and zone 3 begins. Simple enough Right! This continues until the last zone programed available runs.
The confusion begins when people think that a time needs to be set to start zone 2 and 3 and so on. This is not the case. They follow zone 1 which has the only Start Time programmed into the controller.
Be Careful with Multiple Start Times, just use One at first.
Sprinkler Controllers have a feature providing multiple start times, up to 4 Start Times are usually available. These additional start times are only used when a person wants to run the entire system more than once in a 24-hour period.
For Example, the first Start Time is set at 9Am. Zone 1 begins to run at 9am. When Zone 1 is done, say 10 minutes later, Zone 2 begins and runs for 10 minutes, then zone 3 follows and so on. By 10 am let’s say all the zones have run. Let’s say 8 hours later you have a second start time at 6 Pm. Zone 1 comes on and runs and by 7pm all the zones have run again. So, the controller has 2 start times which have caused the Sprinkler System to run start to finish twice in a 24-hour period.
Here is the big problem! Some Homeowners believe the second start time is to start zone 2 running. They also think that the 3rd start time is to start zone 3 and the 4-start time is to run zone 4. No!!
So, this is how they program the controller. At 9am they have a start time and zone 1 starts. The homeowner programs a second start time at 9:10 am to mistakenly start zone 2. Nope! It starts zone 1 all over again. At 9:2o they have a 3rd start time for zone 3. Nope! It starts zone 1 for a third time. Now the controller is stuck in a loop and zone 1 runs constantly and won’t shut off.
If Sprinkler Controller Programming is confusing? Make sure you only have One Start Time!
“Run Time,” is completed Next. It determines how long each zone runs. Zone One 10 Minutes, Zone Two, 15 Minutes, Zone Three 8 Minutes. You can set how long you want each zone to run.
French Drain Repair and Installation is a Central Focus for Oklahoma Drainage. We installed our first French Drain and completed our first Sprinkler Repair in Norman in 1993.
We started with the Valves
The Sprinkler Valves were located in the back yard near the pool. Six valves were located in one place. They were very tightly connected in one Manifold. None of the Sprinkler Valves had worked in a long time. They were Toro Valves that were over 20 years old. They all had to be replaced.
Surprisingly there was no shut-off valve for the Sprinkler Water. The water had to be shut off at the Meter so we could install a Manual Shut off valve. Once installed, the water was turned back on that ran to the house. The water that ran to the Sprinkler System was shut off with our New Shut Off Valve.
Rainbird Sprinkler Valve
The Sprinkler Valves Were Removed
Now, the 6 valves had to replaced. The valves that were used were made by Rain Bird. Before we began, I had to talk to the Customer. The previous valve design was a bad idea to repeat.
The original Sprinkler Valves were crammed into one large valve box in one very tight manifold. This is bad because the valves were too close to the fittings. Simply put, if one valve had to be replaced or worked on in the future, all 6 valves had to be taken out and replaced. If one valve was bad and 5 worked fine, they all still had to be replaced.
That’s Stupid!
I recommended that an additional Valve Box be installed putting 3 valves in each Valve Box. This would allow plenty of space between the valve fittings. If one Sprinkler Valve had to be adjusted or replaced in the future, the other 5 valves need not be disturbed. Simple Enough!
Check For Leaks
Once the valves were replaced and working, it was time to turn on each Sprinkler Zone, one at a time. Water was shooting up from the ground in several places in zone 1. Two broken Sprinkler Pipes and 5 bad Sprinkler Heads in zone 1 had to be fixed and replaced. We went through each of the 6 zones in similar fashion fixing lots of leaks and replacing bad sprinkler heads.
The Sprinkler Repair Cost About Half of the Cost of Completely New System.
Rotor and Pop-Up Sprinkler Heads
Sprinkler Repair Service Provided by Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair
Since 1993 we have Replaced Sprinkler Valves that were sticking or were wore out.
Thousands of Sprinkler Heads have been adjusted.
Countless Sprinkler Controllers have been Reprogramed or Replaced.
Sprinkler Head Adjustment is a service provided by Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair. We have adjusted sprinkler heads since 1993.
Many times, Sprinkler heads get, “Out of Wack.” Lawn mowers and weed eaters are notorious for this. Sprinkler heads start spraying water in the wrong place. It is frustrating to water concrete while plants and grass go without moisture.
Pop-Up Sprinkler Heads
Pop-Up Sprinkler Heads can be adjusted several ways. How far water goes to the left or right can be increased or decreased. The distance the water goes can also be increased or decreased. Finally, how high a sprinkler head pops up can be increased or decreased by installing a taller or shorter head.
Sometimes sprinkler heads spray a reduced distance and don’t perform very well due to water scale. Minerals in the water can completely clog a Pop-Up. Usually, the sprinkler nozzle on top of the sprinkler head, need only be replaced without replacing the entire head.
Rotor Sprinkler Heads also can be adjusted to the left or right. Spray Distance can be increased or decreased as well.
Needs Change
What’s going on in your yard can change. This calls for Sprinkler Head Adjustment. Adding or removing a swimming pool changes everything concerning sprinkler heads. Any number of things can change the necessary sprinkler head coverage.
Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair — Installing – French Drains – Surface Drains – Channel Drains – Sump Pumps.
Providing Expert Sprinkler Repair – Broken Sprinkler Pipes – Sprinkler Head Adjustment – Sprinkler Valve Replacement
We provide Service for Folks in: Norman, Oklahoma City, Edmond, and Moore.
Central and Western Oklahoma is our Service Area since 1993.
(405) 203-9419
Check out Sprinkler System Check-Up
Oklahoma Drainage – We install French Drains, Channel Drains, Surface Drains, Sump Pumps and Sod.
If You live in Oklahoma City and water damaging your foundation, We can install a French Drain for you.
If you live in Norman and have water standing on your driveway, We can install a Channel Drain for you.
If you live in Edmond and have water flooding your basement, We can install a Sump Pump for you.
If you live in Moore and have water washing out your flower bed mulch, We can install a Surface Drain for you.
If you live in Yukon and need grass to grow we can install Sod too!
French Drain Installation Or Do You Need A Surface Drain?
Many Folks don’t know the difference. Actually there are many differences and a few similarities. One difference is, a French Drain takes in a larger amount of water into the drain Pipe than a Surface Drain. There are advantages to Surface Drains as well.
Oklahoma Drainage — Installing – French Drains – Surface Drains – Channel Drains – Sump Pumps
Servicing all of Central and Western Oklahoma since 1993.
Oklahoma Drainage recently diagnosed a Drainage Problem in South Oklahoma City. The Home owner had a sump Pump in their basement that was fed from a French Drain outside the Basement Wall. The French Drain was 14 feet down along the Stem wall of the house. The French Drain Pipe was cheap and had collapsed. We brought in a Mini Excavator and dug up the pipe and replaced it with Durable ADS 4 inch perf/soc French Drain pipe. In the end, we were able to dig up the pipe and Replace it.
Next we installed a new exit for the water by installing a curb fitting.
No more flooding in the customers basement. A few weeks later our customer was able to lay carpet in the basement with no problems.
French Drain Installed Along Stem Wall
Installing Drainage Curb Fitting for a French Drain in South Oklahoma City
FRENCH DRAIN CONNECTED TO GUTTERS
Many different types of Drains can be hooked together by one Drainpipe. The Drainpipe then running to an Exit Point makes up a Drainage System.
One common type of Drain used in a Drainage System is A “French Drain.” Many times a French Drain is installed close to a building foundation or in a low area next to a home or business. This puts the French Drain in close proximity to Gutter Down Spouts.
Rather than have water come off the roof and out the Down Spout and on to the ground below, many times it is much better to tie a Gutter Down Spout Directly into a French Drain or near by Drain Pipe depending on the Drainage System Design.
Connecting The Down Spouts Directly into a French Drain is much more efficient and causes suction to occur in the French Drain. Connection of Gutter Down Spouts to a French Drain makes the Drainage System work better.
Do you have water standing in your yard after a hard rain? Does your sidewalk become a moat during a thunder-storm? Is standing water causing your foundation to deteriorate and break down? Is water seeping into your home and causing mold?
Storm-water run off can cause many types of problems. Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair can diagnose your drainage issues and design a Drainage System to fit your specific needs. We install many types of drains including: French Drains, Channel Drains, Surface Drains, Basin Drains, Trench Drains, Basement Drains, and Sump Pumps.
Colored Gravel for a French Drain
Oklahoma Drainage — Installing – French Drains – Surface Drains – Channel Drains – Sump Pumps
- Cutting The Curb for French Drain Outlet
An example of a complex drainage system would be: A French Drain in the back yard connected to a Surface Drain near a flower bed connected to several gutter downspouts, which are connected to a Channel Drain going across a driveway, which is connected to additional French Drain in the front yard, which runs to a Curb Fitting that lets all the water drain out on to the street.
A simple Drainage System might consist of a French Drain which runs to a Pop-up Emitter which lets water drain over the curb and into the street.
An “Exit Point” is the term used for where all the water leaves the Drainage System. Determining the Exit Point is very critical. It is one of the first things we do when diagnosing a Drainage Problem.
Drainage Systems can:
1. Keep water away from foundations — A French Drain is best because it can move Surface Water and Sub-Surface Water (water moving under ground) away from the foundation. Many times, less experienced companies install Surface Drains to keep water away from foundations. This can be a big mistake. A Surface Drain can’t move or drain Sub-Surface Water. Also, A Surface Drain often can’t move enough water fast enough and easily becomes overwhelmed during a heavy rain. A Surface Drain also can’t cover or protect a broad enough area. Surface Drains should be designed in a Drainage System to be located in smaller Drainage Areas moving moderate amounts of water. Surface Drains look better than French Drains. If ,”appearance” is more important than Drainage Capacity, Go with the Surface Drain. Just know what you are getting into and what your expectations should be. One side of a foundation alone, can be over 100 feet. A 4 inch or 6 inch French Drain is best when protecting a large area such as a foundation.
2. Keep water away from small or enclosed areas. This might be a low area just through a gate on the side of a house, or the low area between a flowerbed and the wall of a house, or standing water on or near a sidewalk or driveway. These types of Drainage Problems are best served with Surface Drains. A Surface Drain can move water away from a low area that is relatively small. This can occur in yards, flowerbeds, sidewalks and driveways. A surface Drain is designed to move Surface Water away from a problem area to a predetermined exit point. Surface Drains are available in many sizes. How quickly they remove standing water is usually determined by the size of the pipe that is connected to the drain.
Simply put, a Drainage System is one or a group of underground Drain Pipes that take water away from a place that has water standing on it or flowing across it. The water that is in the problem area, can be causing damage or may be inconvenient or both. (Usually Both) A simple Drainage System is a Drain for the water to enter, a Drainpipe to move the water away from the Drain, and an Exit Point for the water to be released out of the Drainpipe.
Drainage Systems quickly can become more complicated. Considerations must include:
How does the water get to the problem area? There may be one or many sources.
Water Sources:
1. It falls from the sky directly
2. It flows down hill over the surface (surface water)
3. It flows underground under the surface (sub-surface water)
4. It flows from the edge of a roof ( There may be many roofs near the problem area, neighbors etc.)
5. It flows from a gutter downspout
6. It flows over the edge of a gutter because the gutter is too small is is clogged
7. It flows up from the ground (seeps and springs are common in Oklahoma)
8. It flows from a sprinkler system use ( yours or your neighbors)
9. It flows from a leaking pipe ( water mains, water meters, water lines, sprinkler pipes, sprinkler valves)
There are other reasons for Drainage Problems, the above reasons are just the most common.
Once the number of water sources is determined, a rough estimate of the amount of water that needs to be drained away on average must be estimated. This can be simplified down to “SMALL, MEDIUM, OR LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER TO BE DRAINED AWAY. You don’t have to be an engineer trying to calculate fluid dynamics. Experience at diagnosing drainage problems helps however.
How much water
needs to be moved will help determine the type and size of the Surface Drain or French Drain that needs to be installed. It also helps to determine the size of Drainpipe required for the Drainage System. A good rule to follow is, “If in doubt, install a larger Drain and Drain Pipe.” Unused Drainage Capacity is better than property damage caused by a Drain that is overwhelmed by too much water.
For home and small business use typical materials used are:
6 inch, 9 inch, and 12 inch Surface Drains –
3 inch, 4 inch, and 6 inch Drain Pipes —
3 inch, 4 inch, and 6 inch French Drains —
French Drains move more water than Surface Drains —
French Drains move Surface Water and Sub-Surface Water
Surface Drains move Surface Water only
Surface Drains look nicer than French Drains in most cases
Once the type and number of drains is determined and what size Drain Pipe will connect them, an exit point must be selected. (Where is the Drainage System going to take the water to and release it?)
The Drainage Curb Fitting is installed when the desired exit point for the French Drain will release the Drainage Water into the Street. The Drainage Curb Fitting is rectangular in shape and made to be installed through the curb. A small section of Curb is cut out with a concrete saw. The Section is a few inches wider than the Drainage Curb Fitting. We then install new concrete around the curb fitting. Once the concrete has dried, the Drain Pipe coming from a French Drain or Surface Drain is connected to the Drainage Curb fitting and then covered with dirt.
